Need small ride on mower - Toro or Honda?

 

Hi,

I have about 1/2 acre of grass (I hesitate to call it lawn) with quite a few
flowerbeds. At the moment I use a 21" self propelled mower but am beginning
to find it a bit of a chore these days.

What I am looking for is a small ride on with the following properties:-

1. Easy to operate as my wife will likely be the main user.  This means
hydrostatic or other auto drive.

2. Good mulching capability. I would expect mulching to be the norm with
only very occasional use of grass collection.

3. Reliable with easy servicing.  I am an ex motor mechanic and would expect
to do my own servicing. £250 plus is a lot of money just to change the oil,
renew the filters and sharpen the blade.  I have overhauled many B & S
engines but ever a Honda - perhaps this says something!

4. My budget is  £1600 maximum.


I have done a fair amount of research and am currently looking at the
following two machines both of which have hydrostatic transmission and are
from respected manufacturers.  I do realise, of course, that Toro and Honda
probably outsource the manufacturer of these smaller machines.

Honda HF 1211 H  - This machine appears to meet my requirements.  My only
reservation is in its mulching capabilities.  The mulching kit seems to
comprise of just a bung in the grass collection shute.  I would be very
interested in hearing from anyone who has this particular mower and how well
it mulches.

Toro H132 / 70186 - Again this machine appears to meet my requirements. This
is marketed as having "Recycler Technology" so may have better mulching
performance than the Honda above.  I also like the fact that I have been
able to download the full owner and service manual for the Toro.  Honda do
not appear to release this information on the internet.  I would like to
hear from anyone who has had any experience with this.machine and also is
full service information provided.

Thanks

Dave

 


Scotch Whisky wrote:

Honda usually have downaloadable brochures etc for their engines but
you might have to search around on different sites, e.g. try the US one
instead of the UK one.  I thinkk the engine stuff is at
www.hondaengines.com  there might be a hypen in there.  I have a honda
powered digger and a honda powered mower and both have been fine.  What
 particularly liek is that they can be started with a very light pull
but I suspect a ride-on would have electric start.

As for the mowers themselves I really don't know!

 

Hello,

I have a John Deere LT180, its an amazing mulching mower.  I use it for
commercial sites and it always mulches with no problem.  Only problem I
can see is the price but you could always try to find a good second
hand or demo machine.

Edd Smith



adder1969@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

 



I haven't looked those machines up but I would be surprised to learn
that you can buy _any_ ride-on mulching mower for "under £1600" - and
especially one with hydrostatic transmission. When I was looking a
couple of years ago I bought the cheapest I could find which was the
Stiga Park Compact HST at £1700, but now nearer £2000 I suspect. It
meets all of your criteria and I would recommend it. The UK importers
were good enough to let me have their illustrated workshop manual which
is not usually supplied to consumers, so I have been able to change
belts, blades and other basic maintenance tasks without going to a
dealer.

 


Sir might look at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAESTRO-MULCHING-125-RIDE-ON-MOWER_W0QQitemZ130039447126QQihZ003QQcategoryZ50377QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem